Imperial (2) 1950s - 1960s

Folkestone Herald 21-1-1950

Notice

To: The Town Clerk of the Borough of Folkestone

The Clerk to the Licensing Justices of the Borough of Folkestone

The Superintendent of Police of the Borough of Folkestone in the County of Kent

And to All whom it may concern

I, Alice Mary Benwell, widow, now residing at the Imperial, Tile Kiln Lane, Cheriton, in the Licensing Distict of Folkestone in the County of Kent, do hereby give notice that it is my intention to apply at the General Annual Licensing Meet­ing for the said Borough to be holden at The Town Hall in the said Borough on the 8th day of February next for the grant to me of a Justices Licence author­ising me to apply for and hold an Excise Licence to sell by retail any intoxicating liquor which may be sold under a publican`s licence for consumption off the premises situate at Tile Kiln Lane, Cheriton, and known by the sign of The Imperial, and which premises Mackeson and Company Limited, of The Brewery, Hythe, in the County of Kent is the owner, and of whom I rent them.

Given under my hand this 12th day of January, 1950.

A.M. Benwell.

Folkestone Herald 11-2-1950

Annual Licensing Sessions

Mrs. Alice Mary Benwell, of the Imperial, Tile Kiln Labe, Cheriton, successfully applied for a full off licence for the premises.

Mr. L.E. Swann, representing Mrs. Benwell, said she had held the licence since 1947. In recent years the area had developed very considerably, and there had been over 200 houses built within a quarter of a mile of the premises.

Folkestone Herald 16-2-1963

Annual Licensing Sessions

Convictions for drunkenness in Folkestone in 1962 totalled 27, a decrease of 10 com­pared with the 1961 figure. But even so it compared unfavourably with the records of neighbouring towns - 12 at Dover, 12 at Can­terbury, and 15 at Ashford.

At Folkestone Brewster Sessions on Wednesday, the Chairman of the Justices, Mr. P.V. Gurr, asked the assembled licensees to watch this aspect carefully throughout the coming year. He pointed out that the figure of 27 covered only those who had been convicted. “You will all be aware”, he added, “that there are a large number of other drunks who manage to find their own way home safely”.

Thanking Supt. Peck for his report, Mr. Gurr said “I think we shall all regard this as very satisfactory”. He said that Folkestone`s average of 283 people per licence compared with 429 at Ashford and 258 at Canterbury. Mr. Gurr continued “Concerning the substantial decrease in the number of extensions of hours granted during the year, this, of course, is mainly the result of the general extension of licensing hours, and the fact that the previous block applications for holidays were not necessary to be made. With regard to the police visits to licensed premises during the year, licence holders will realise that these visits are not for snooping purposes, but with a view to assisting the licence holders in their operations. I am sure any suggestions made by police when they call on these periodic visits are welcomed and acted on by the licensees. In the past the General Annual Licensing Meeting has always been a busy occasion for the granting of new licences, but with the abolition of the Licensing Planning Committee and the Confirming Authority, and the new statutory provisions whereby new licences can be granted at Transfer Sessions, the work is now spread out over the year. The Committee have considered many applications for new types of licences defined under the 1961 Act, and we are glad to see that the conditions of these new licences are apparently being observed”. Continuing, the Chairman said “Magistrates are very glad to have had before them during the year various plans for alterations to public houses, and have been pleased to agree to these, particularly in view of the improved supervision for the licensees, and the provision of indoor toilet accommodation for ladies and gentlemen. Any further applications making provision of this type will be favourably considered by the Licensing Committee. During the year a provisional licence has been granted in respect of premises to be built in Tile Kiln Lane, where an existing of-licence is to be surrendered, as the way the Biggins Wood area has built up certainly calls for a development on these lines, and having this house on the connection between Canterbury Road and Cheriton will also offer advantages”.

Mr. Gurr ended by announcing that all existing licences would be renewed.

Folkestone Herald 8-4-1967

Local News

A well-known licensee, Mr. Percy Sidney Taylor, aged 66, died at his home last week.

Mr. Taylor, of 175 Downs Road, lived in Folkestone all his life and until the second world war conducted the Brewery Tap public house in Tontine Street. After the war he bought the Imperial off-licence in Ashley Avenue, Cheriton, where he stayed until he retired. Mr. Taylor leaves a widow, Mrs. Elna Taylor, a son, Mr. Norman Percy Taylor, and a grandson, Barry Taylor.

A funeral service was held at St. John`s Church, Folkestone, on Friday, and cremation at Hawkinge followed.